Palin endorses Cruz in US Senate race

As early voting looms, Ted Cruz announced a prize endorsement from Sarah Palin (and her husband, Todd) in his race for the GOP nod for U.S. Senate in a crowded field led by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

According to a release from Cruz’s camp, Palin wrote in response to a Cruz letter:

“We’re proud to join conservatives in Texas and throughout the nation in supporting your campaign to become the next Senator from the Lone Star State.”

“Your conservative principles, passionate defense of our Constitution and our free market system come at a time when these cornerstones of our freedom and prosperity are under attack.Our shared goal isn’t just to change the majority in control of the Senate, but to assure principled conservatives like you are there to fight for us.”

Cruz wrote:

“Governor Palin has been an inspiration to conservatives across Texas and across the Nation. She is principled and passionate and never afraid to speak truth to establishment power. I am humbled and honored to have Governor Palin’s support as we fight to restore fiscal sanity to the circus that is Washington. With Governor Palin’s support, and the support of tens of thousands of conservatives from all across Texas, we will turn our country around, rein in out-of-control spending and debt in Washington, and restore the Constitution.”

Cruz’s campaign said it has received donations from more than 19,000 people and among its endorsements cites the Tea Party Express, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and Rand Paul, Dr. James Dobson, Cathie Adams, George P. Bush, Gun Owners of America, Family Research Council Action PAC, FreedomWorks, Texas Home School Coalition PAC, Kelly Shackelford, David Barton, Peggy Venable and Young Conservatives of Texas.